PSD Researchers Part of US Delegation to International Meeting on Creating Drought Resilient Societies

March 18, 2013

Last week, Roger Pulwarty, Director of NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System,
and Physical Sciences Division researchers Bill Neff and Robert Webb worked with the State Department
and US Delegates representing international scientific collaboration on drought and water
scarcity. Following a three-day international scientific workshop on
drought, early warning systems, impacts and societal response, in which
NOAA played a leadership role, the World Meteorological Organization, and
other United Nations and participating institutions issued a Final Declaration
linking drought science, monitoring, and preparedness at international,
regional and national levels.

The High-Level Meeting on National Drought Policy (HMNDP):
Towards More Drought Resilient Societies was held 11-15 March 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland and
sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization. Its purpose was to provide practical
insight into useful, science-based actions to address the key drought
issues being considered by governments and the private sector under the
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the various
strategies to cope with drought. National governments must adopt policies
that engender cooperation and coordination at all levels of government in
order to increase their capacity to cope with extended periods of water
scarcity in the event of a drought. The ultimate goal is to create more
drought resilient societies.

The PSD researchers helped in the negotiation of the declaration in the role of science experts. In addition,
Dr. Pulwarty, a member of the international organizing committee, gave a
talk on drought monitoring, early warning and information systems. Drs. Neff and Webb presented information
on hydroclimatic extremes and their relationship between droughts and drought-ending extreme weather events.